Kum & Go changes course and will not pave over original Route 66, official says

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Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Nathan Papes/News-Leader

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Construction equipment clears land next to one of the last remaining original sections of historic Route 66 on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.(Photo: Nathan Papes/News-Leader)Buy Photo

Kum & Go has changed its plans to pave over a stretch of the original Route 66, a company spokeswoman said.

After hearing from fans of the historic road, the company will keep an original section unpaved as it builds a new marketplace store at the intersection of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street, spokeswoman Kristie Bell said.

Bell said the company reassessed its plans after meeting with Tommy Pike, president of the Missouri Route 66 Association, and Thomas Peters, dean of library services at Missouri State University.

"We’re pleased to have worked with the Missouri Route 66 Association to preserve what we can of this piece of American history," Bell said.